1) He’s okay with not playing short-stop, which I hear is a thing.
2) Martin is great defensive catcher and works well with a younger pitching staff. Whether this is a function of narrative (young pitchers like those in the Pirates organization have good enough stuff that they’d probably work well with anyone) or if it’s legit, is a tough call. But, all things being equal, I’d rather have an experienced game caller, that knows how to lock down a plate and steal a strike shepherding my young, core pitching staff than a guy who feels like his only real use is coaching pitchers because he can neither hit nor defend. Guys that do more than crouch, bark, and act bitter are easier to respect, follow, and learn from as they’re usually more self-actualized than a catcher enjoying the fruits of a market inefficiency. Players pick up on that—that a teammate is a round because there wasn’t anyone else better—and it’s tiresome.
3) He’s Canadian. Doesn’t mean a lot unless you want it to, frankly. But, knowing the Toronto fan base, this is something that gets disproportionately weighted. There are plenty of American borns playing in their home towns and, fact is, when they suck, people hate them as much as they would anyone else. Not saying that Martin is going to suck. I think he’ll do quite well, actually. But lets be clear: him being from the country/area/Great White North doesn’t mean a whole heck of lot if he doesn’t produce. That said, expect to see him on camera a lot. That’s a good thing because he talks in a way that excites listeners. He has neither Jose Reyes’ uber cheerful stream of consciousness, or Jose Bautista’s earnings report/expectations managing, candor. And he can do it in French! He’ll be a novelty at first, but will earn the respect of listeners later as he’ll put the work in and play smash-mouth ball. I don’t expect much helmet throwing, how dare you call me out on a borderline call, don’t you know who I am!!?!??! garbage from him.
4) He’s a clubhouse leader. Again, another f of N where N = narrative. That said, he’s an English speaking clubhouse leader which does account for something, especially since most of the pitchers are now English as a first language. There is no malicious racial tension in locker rooms, but there can be lost in translation moments. Compound that with the closed circuit fraternity that unions and years in the game create, and the effect gets compounded. Every locker room I’ve ever been in has cliques that form because of language channels. There is nothing more unnerving than when your Latin catcher is laughing and shouting and carrying on with a Latin pitcher, but, when it’s time to talk to you, it’s as solemn as a tax audit. I like Martin because I know he’ll play a good ambassador to both sides, and because he’s an established star that will share mirth in a language everyone can understand—unless of course it’s French, in which case everyone will be equally confused, save Alex Anthopoulos. Stars are expected to lead, but if they spend a good deal of time talking in a language folks can’t all understand in an environment where it is commonly understood that everyone hears everything, it separates. Catchers are innately expected to lead. Star catchers even more so. The burden is big for Martin, but it should pull some of the weight from Bautista who’s more leader on billboard and boardroom than locker room.
5) The contract favors “The Window.” You know The Window, right? Brought to you curtousey of the Paul Beeston Window Company? Well, in 2016, that window will shut as J-Bau and EE will be going, going, or gone. And I don’t seen anyone in the system that will replace them. Even with their love for the town as effervesent as it is, they’ll go where the money beckons and it wont be Toronto (because, it never is!). The soft entry point on Martin’s contract, with the guaranteed money in the back, lets the Jays take advantage of The Window, and grants them the ability to go out and get more talent if the right deal presents itself—and it will, probably around the trade deadline if the Jays are in it.
6) It made us temporarily forget how much we think John Gibbons is the millstone around the neck of the club! (This bullet point paid for by the People for John Gibbons as Manager in 2015 Super-Pac, Alex Anthopoulos, Chairman).
7) Finally, the guy can hit. I don’ t mean homer- or-K’s hit, I mean, situational competency hitting. That’s great because it means the Jays have flexibility with him in the line up. It also means that Zaun will have less to RAARRRR—> WHEN I PLAYED I DID IT THE RIGHT WAY!!!! about when he does his post game highlights.
Just my thoughts. Take em’ or leave em. I recommend leaving them since, just 3 weeks before Martin signed with the Jays, I said publicly that I thought the rumors concerning it were a ploy to rattle the chains of Jays fans. It’s AA’s thing to kick every set of tires out there, so I tend to disregard most Jays are in the hunt with Super-Star-X,but, he does land enough that you have to keep your guard up. This time, he landed a punch on me, but I’ll stay vigilant.
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